Are There Carcinogenic Contaminants in Your Tap Water?

While your tap water seems clean and clear, it could be dirty, unsafe and could be exposing you and your family to irreparable health problems. A recent study found high levels of contaminants in the nation’s drinking water that put people’s health at risk. What’s more, some of these contaminants have been linked to more than 100,000 cancer cases in the country.

In this article, we discuss common carcinogenic contaminants found in tap water to help you keep safe.

Remember, if you’re concerned with your drinking water, we’re here to help. Call us and schedule an appointment for water testing today.

1.      Arsenic

Arsenic is a chemical element that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. However, it can get into your water supply from natural rocks or industrial and agriculture pollution.

Sadly, even the smallest amount of arsenic in your tap water is dangerous and can cause skin, bladder, liver, kidney, or lung cancer.

2.      Radon

Did you know that inhaling Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the USA? Yes, Radon is a widespread carcinogen in the country, especially in California.

So, how does this chemical element get into your water supply? Radon gets into the water when uranium and thorium (usually present in natural rocks) break down and dissolve in water.

3.      Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium- 6)

If you’ve watched Erin Brockovich’s film featuring Julia Roberts, then you might well be aware of the dangers of chromium-6. Chromium-6 is a highly toxic chromium variant that gets to your water supply when industrial waste containing steel, tan, textile, or wood preservatives is leached into the water sources.

Unfortunately, using water containing chromium- 6 exposes you to stomach cancer, respiratory disorders, infertility, and congenital disabilities issues.

Reducing Carcinogenic Exposure in Tap Water

While filtration pitchers can enable you to remove a significant amount of contaminants, it does not filter carcinogenic contaminants from your tap water. Neither does boiling; if anything, boiling might increase arsenic concentration in your water.

The surest way to keep you and your family safe is by reverse osmosis. This method can keep off seven of the tiniest contaminant particles from your water and eliminate bad taste and odors.

Schedule Your Free Water Test Today!

At Ising’s Culligan Water, we offer comprehensive solutions for all your water purification needs. We’ll visit your home, evaluate your water and detect the contaminants that may be in it. Call us today at 925-447-3717 to schedule a free in-home water test!

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How To Disinfect Your Well Water To Kill Bacteria: Your Step-By-Step Guide

It’s important to test your well water regularly to ensure it’s safe and healthy for consumption and use by your family. So if you test your well and you find that the well water become contaminated with dangerous or harmful bacteria,

1. Calculate The Volume Of Water In Your Well & Distribution System

First, you’ll need to estimate the volume of water that’s in your well, and in your water heater, pressure tank, and other systems of your home. If you’re not sure how much water your well contains, you can use this calculator to estimate the water volume in your system.

2. Add Household Bleach To Your Well To Kill Bacteria

You’ll want to add enough household bleach to reach 100 ppm (parts per million). The precise volume of water you’ll need to use depends on the size of your well, and the type of bleach you use. If you use a bleach that contains about   5-6% sodium hypochlorite bleach, you’ll need about 4.65 cups per 100 gallons of water in your system.

Pour the bleach on every part of your well, including the casing. Use a hose to pump well water back into the well, and rinse the entire well to make sure that the bleach is evenly distributed.

3. Wait Up To 24 Hours To Disinfect The System

Do not use the water in your well for at least 3 hours. 12-24 hours is preferable. During this time, the bleach will do its job by destroying harmful pathogens and bacteria in your well water. The longer you wait, the more thoroughly your well will be cleaned and sanitized.

4. Flush Your System To Remove Chlorine

As the final step, you’ll need to flush your well to remove chlorine from the system. Open up every tap and faucet in your home and property and begin pumping the water out of the well. If possible, water from outdoor faucets should be directed to areas without vegetation, such as gravel roads.

You must continue pumping the water out of your well until the chlorine odor dissipates. Then, you may turn off your taps, and allow your well water to re-accumulate. Then, test your water to ensure it’s free of bacteria.

Reverse Osmosis Can Help You Keep Your Well Water Safe & Healthy

If you have a well that’s been contaminated in the past, a reverse osmosis (RO) system may be a great investment for your home. With a reverse osmosis system from Ising’s Culligan Water, you can ensure that your water is always safe and healthy to drink. Visit our solution center or contact us at 925-206-3727 to get started.